The Tourist Tax in Barcelona – All You Need to Know
Last Updated: April 2017
Millions of tourists visit the beautiful city of Barcelona every year in search of fantastic food, incredible art and some of the best nightlife in Europe. So it may not come as a surprise that the Catalan government has decided to follow in Rome’s footsteps and implement a new tourist tax. The tax came into force on 1 November 2012, meaning all those renting accommodation in Catalonia, from apartments to hotels to campervans, would need to pay a small fee.
Whether you’re already an Apartment Barcelona client, you’re looking to visit Barcelona soon or you’re just keeping up with the times, read on for all you need to know about the tourist tax in Barcelona.
Who is affected by the tax?
The tourist tax is easily explained:
- Anyone aged 17 and over staying at an apartment, hostel, hotel, campsite or cruise ship will be charged.
- Taxes only apply for the first 7 nights of your stay.
The tax charge will differ depending on which accommodation you opt for, and whether you are staying in the city of Barcelona or the rest of Catalonia. Below are the charges for apartment rentals:
- Apartments in Barcelona: 2.48€ per person per night (VAT included)
- Apartments in the rest of Catalonia: 0.99€ per person per night (VAT included)
The tourist tax is payable upon arrival to either the owner of the apartment or the friendly staff of Apartment Barcelona, who will then transfer the payment to the Generalitat de Catalunya.
What is the reason for the tourist tax?
Tourism is a booming industry in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia plans to use some of the revenue generated by the new tax to assist the region’s economic recovery. That being said, the Generalitat has stated that a large percentage of the newly imposed tax will be poured back into the tourism industry.
While not everyone in the tourism industry has embraced the new tax, with hoteliers, tour operators and other accommodation providers fearful that this could negatively affect travel in Catalonia, many believe that the income provided by the charges will help to promote Barcelona as a vacation destination in the long-run and stay top of the leaderboard in Spanish tourism.
How do you feel about the tourist tax? Drop us a comment below!
If you have any questions as to how the tax may affect your trip to Barcelona, please feel free to contact us at info@apartmentbarcelona.com and we will be more than happy to help you with any concerns or queries.